Knowra History of Tuscany History of Tuscany The history of Tuscany traces the region from Etruscan settlements and Roman rule through medieval city-states, Renaissance politics, and integration into modern Italy.
Etruscan civilization : An ancient civilization centered in Etruria, in what is now central Italy, before its incorporation into Rome. Etruscan cities shaped the region before Roman conquest.
Tuscan communes : Self-governing medieval urban communities in Tuscany, including Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Lucca. Communal government made cities the principal centers of medieval Tuscan politics.
Florence : A city in Tuscany that became a major center of banking, politics, and Renaissance art. Its expansion and cultural influence came to define much of Tuscan history.
Renaissance in Florence : A period of artistic, architectural, and intellectual innovation centered in Florence from the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries. Florentine wealth and patronage made the city a leading center of Renaissance culture.
History of Umbria : The history of the central Italian region of Umbria, from ancient peoples and Roman rule to modern Italy. Umbria shares central Italian influences but developed without Tuscany’s dominant maritime and banking cities.
Villanovan culture : An Iron Age culture of central Italy, often regarded as an early phase of Etruscan civilization. Its settlements and burial practices precede the rise of Etruscan city-states.
Guelphs and Ghibellines : Rival political factions in medieval Italy associated respectively with papal and imperial power. Their conflicts repeatedly divided Tuscan cities and shaped local alliances.
Siena : A Tuscan city-state and later city known for its medieval institutions, architecture, and rivalry with Florence. Siena’s competition with Florence shaped regional politics and city identities.
Tuscan dialect : A group of Italo-Romance varieties spoken in Tuscany, including the Florentine variety. Florentine Tuscan became the principal basis of standard Italian.
History of Liguria : The history of the northwestern Italian coastal region of Liguria, including the rise of the Republic of Genoa. Liguria offers a maritime comparison to Tuscany’s varied city-states and inland powers.
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